Cochrane bowlers Matt LaMontagne and Ryley Jackson have won the first adult bowling banner for Cochrane Lanes.

The team finished ahead of 12 other teams from Calgary, Airdrie, and Lethbridge to win the Bowl Alberta Doubles Championship on Mar. 20 right here on their home lanes.

The pair bowled 169 pins above their averages in four games to top the 13 entries, just 18 ahead of second-place Richard Logan and Tracey Messer.

Jackson bowled a 218, 225, 238, and 205, and says it's the best four games he's ever put together. He carries a 189 average, and the tournament was based upon pins over average.

"Usually, I have two good ones, and a bad one (bowling is typically played in a string of three), so it was good to be consistent and not fold under the pressure."

LaMontagne carries a higher average and a huge 275 game helped them earn the top spot.

Jackson says the two have been bowling together for years, and it's their first provincial doubles they've entered. Previously they've entered team and singles events.

Three years ago in Edmonton, they finished second in provincials and were just shy of representing Alberta at the nationals.

"We've definitely been in those pressure situations and have almost pulled it off," says Jackson. "It was just nice to win in our hometown and represent Cochrane the way we should."

"We had the mindset of let's just out there and have fun and do what we know how to do, and it paid off."

They both walked away with $600 for the win.

The pair have been bowling together since Youth Bowling Council. For about the last 10 years, they've been in the Thursday night adult league on a team they call Dry Bumpers. They've won that league a few times over the years.

There isn't a doubles national event, but they'll be entering other tournaments in hopes of being able to someday represent Cochrane Lanes at nationals.

Currently, they're participating in an online three-week tournament against teams from across Canada.

"Last week, we were playing against a team from Ontario, which is kind of cool. You play off against that team, and if you win, you advance to the next level."

Bowl Alberta vice-president Rick Heinrich was here for the tournament.

"Bowling back is, and we've been looking forward to it," he says. "It's been a long-time coming, and these guys are happy."

Certainly, it's great to win, but the bottom line in the sport is comradery. Heinrich has been involved in five-pin bowling across Canada for years and has coached youngsters to 100-year-olds.

"They enjoy getting to meet each other once a year, and sometimes it's only once in a lifetime." 

The National Youth Challenge of the 5-Pin Bowling Association starts Mar. 23 at the Chinook Lanes in Calgary. Fourteen-year-old Cochrane bowler Jordan Loewen is among the participants.